US sends aircraft to aid in Indonesia submarine search
23 April, 2021
AMERICA military will send airborne teams to help Indonesia search for a submarine that went missing with 53 sailors aboard, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Thursday (Apr 22).
Kirby said the US Defense Department was "deeply saddened" by the news headlines of the lost submarine KRI Nanggala 402 that disappeared on Wednesday during exercises off the coast of Bali.
"Our thoughts are with the Indonesian sailors and their own families," Kirby said in a statement.
"At the invitation of the Indonesian government, we are sending airborne assets to aid in the search for the missing submarine."
Kirby said US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin planned to speak on Friday with Indonesian defense chief Prabowo Subianto "to mention our sorrow also to discuss how else america can be of assistance."
An oil spill where in fact the submarine was considered to have submerged pointed to possible harm to its fuel tank and fanned fears of a deadly disaster.
The crew of the German-built vessel could have enough oxygen until early Saturday, but time was quickly running out as rescuers scoured the coast off Bali for signs of its location.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com